Civil War

Scientists have uncovered a pit of human bones at a Civil War battlefield in Virginia. The remains are the amputated limbs of wounded Union soldiers.

It's the first "limb pit" from a Civil War battlefield to be excavated, and experts say it opens a new window on what is often overlooked in Civil War history: the aftermath of battle, the agony of survivors and the trials of early combat surgeons.

City workers on Tuesday started moving a Confederate statue called "Johnny Reb" from a park in the heart of downtown Orlando to a nearby cemetery, following renewed public outcry that it is a symbol of racism and white supremacy.

The Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park was the center of an outcry in late 2013, when the state held a hearing on a plan to place a Union memorial there. But now, the site of Florida's largest Civil War battle --- a Confederate victory --- might have a peaceful solution in the works.

"We have to tell both sides of the story," said Jeff Grzelak, a Civil War historian and re-enactor for more than 40 years.

The launching pads at Cape Canaveral, an ancient French arch and a Revolutionary War-era tunnel in South Carolina are all historic sites. But that’s not all they have in common—they’re also rapidly deteriorating.

"Our world heritage is really going away in many instances from different things: war, looting, all kinds of acid rains and climate change," says Dr. Lori Collins.

After decades of blistering debate about the balance between honoring Southern history and glorifying slavery and white supremacy, the Duval County School Board in Jacksonville, Fla., voted unanimously on Monday to rename Nathan B. Forrest High School.

Forrest is a polarizing figure from the Civil War era. Forrest was considered a succesful and fearless general, but it was also Forrest and his men who, after overpowering Union forces in Fort Pillow, near Memphis, went on to execute black soldiers after they had surrendered.